Persian Problems...

Adalbertsteinweg
Copyright 2009 Matt Mortensen

With all the trouble in the streets of Tehran recently, my mind has been wandering back to Germany. I have never met a Persian (typically what Iranians call themselves, but not all Iranians are Persian) in the USA but living in Germany I met many. I had one really great friend who was a student and worked on my street at the restaurant that his relatives owned and was getting ready to attend college in Kiel. He was a very smart kid and I think that we learned a lot from each other in our mix of English and German. I recently heard from him and he shared an update from his family still in Iran. I am glad to hear that all is well for them, but it seems his brother's stories are more dire than what we are hearing in the western media. It is a very scary situation for the people on the ground and one of the rare times when we have journalists who can tell the story first hand. Facebook and Twitter are great tools but real connections to diverse people are worth more than gold to me. In times like this, I cherish my friends who have given me a perspective that is irreplaceable with education or "real world" experience.

Minneapolis, MN....

The City
Copyright 2009 Matt Mortensen

I was doing some 'Googling' the other day on a subject I have wondered about for some time - where is the best 'street food' in Minneapolis. Street food is that cheap, fast, and delicious stuff wrapped in wax paper and sold by vendors in carts and small shops in cities all over the world. What I found in my online search was depressing to say the least: street food is MISSING! The full story is here, but below is enough to share my depression.

---You can occasionally find stands along East Lake St. selling flavored ice and Mexican delicacies. Hot dog stands appear in the summer months outside bars or restaurants once in awhile, most notably outside Grumpy’s Northeast. A 2006 article in the StarTribune on this topic claims there are at least 25 active, licensed mobile food stands in downtown St. Paul, selling everything from mini-doughnuts to grilled sandwiches to gyros. However, every time one runs into this sort of stand, it seems more like the exception than the rule. There simply doesn’t seem to be a pervasive culture of street food here the way there is in other American cities.---

Passing of a Giant...

This was the first album, cassette or CD that I ever owned. Although Michael Jackson may have had his share of problems in the past 10 years, he will be the face of many of my childhood memories. I will never forget how much I feared the Thriller groove on this LP! IT gave me chills and my brother, who shared the room with me, took advantage of that fact often! His sounds and moves are undeniably and inextricably linked to my generation's experience.

May the King of Pop rest in peace.

Pirates are People, too...

Gift of Life
Copyright 2009 Matt Mortensen

In October 1993 Americans learned where a small, East African country called Somalia was. It was not a welcome introduction, as was chronicled in the 2001 Hollywood film Blackhawk Down. Today, Somalia is still ravaged by in-fighting between clans with additional tension from the presence of Ethiopean troops. Of the approximately 10 million people living in the country, half are under 15 years old. The odds of these teenagers seeing their 50th birthday are sadly against them. Violence, on top of hepatitis, AIDS, and more exotic diseases like schistosomiasis make certain that few live long, happy lives. The most recent news of Somalia in the American media is the Navy SEAL takedown of the pirates who held American sea-faring merchants hostage. In fact, as I write this, Discovery Channel is broadcasting a special on this story.
So, where is all this coming from? For those of you don't know, Minnesota is home to one of the largest populations of Somali refugees. On the walk home from the Metrodome today, I stopped and grabbed some takeout from Sambuza Grill, a place I just happened to pass. I had the first item on the lunch menu - roasted goat (spicy) with bread. I should not have been shocked, but I was. Not only was the food indescribably delicious, but it came with free vegetable soup while I waited, a banana in the bag, and plenty of smiles from the workers and other customers. I am very jealous of a good friend of mine who travels all over the globe every year, but times like this remind me that I don't need a $1500 plane ticket in hand - I just need a grease-stained menu. Eating goat meat with my hands while still in Minnesota, my noise filled with odd smells and my ears not being able to decipher where strange words begin and end is cure enough for my travel bug today...

Nature Valley Race...

Gaining Ground
Copyright 2009 Matt Mortensen

This picture demonstrates nicely some of the features displayed in a high-end SLR versus a point and shoot. This shot required accurate Continuous Tracking Auto-Focus and the ability to adjust the aperture down all the way to slow down the shutter speed on this bright sunny day. I uploaded the full size image, click and take a close look!

Vietnam Veterans Ceremony...

Boots on the Ground

Copyright 2009 Matt Mortensen

The Minnesota State Capitol played host on Saturday to a ceremony welcoming home veterans of the Vietnam War. I went down and got some great shots of vets, spouses, South Vietnamese army allies and even Sen. Amy Klobuchar. I really liked this shot of the boots against the Wall. It is a tri-tone image, which is one of my favorite ways for presenting these types of still lifes that are charged with great emotion. I usually find the best colors to be a mix of blue, gold and black.

Driftless 150 Inaugural Ride...

Two Wheel View fulfilled their promise of an exciting ride for their first annual fundraiser ride! The weekend was absolute perfect weather for enjoying the picturesque landscapes of southern Minnesota. Winding creeks full of trout and the quaint towns full of welcoming Minnesota natives served as the backdrop to this event. We rode a total of 105 miles with full support the whole way. I am not the most experienced rider but the veterans on the trip assured me it was on of the best rides they had been on in the US. I hope to join Two Wheel View on one of their rides outside the US in the near future. What a professional job all of them did in every aspect of the trip from planning to wrapping up at the end. Thanks so much, guys! I can't wait for next year's ride. If this year is any indication we should have quite a group of good people for next. Any one who wants to participate should contact Two Wheel View here and mention the "Driftless 150".

Guest Portrait Photographer...

Copyright 2009 Natalie Finazzo Photography

I finally got some images to display from a friend whom I consider to be the best portrait photographer in the Twin Cities! Wow, obtaining the permission to show these shots was difficult enough, I can't imagine how far out her clients have to book her! Her name is Natalie Finazzo and she has been behind the lens since she was in grade school. Natalie creates images that display the full gambit of her varied talents - exquisite design sense, tangible compassion for her subjects and complete mastery of lighting techniques. I had the chance to get a few moments with her recently to talk about why she loves her work so much.-

I enjoy the challenge of getting to know my clients, learning what is unique about them and/or their children and capturing that. The anticipation of new parents with a little one on the way, the tiny features of a newborn, the curiosity of a 6 month old, the exuberance of a 4 year old, the love that a family shares, the independence of a graduating senior, the diversity of actors, and the glamour, simplicity and romance of a wedding...I simply can't get enough of it all!

Copyright 2009 Natalie Finazzo Photography

As you can tell, this is one serious woman who pours that passion out in front of the camera. Not only is Natalie a serious player in the world of portrait photography, she also cut her teeth in the world of photojournalism working in print media. If you are looking for a dedicated and talented professional to capture an upcoming moment in the story of your life, you have to talk to Natalie!